Information Related to "God, Science and the Bible (9/05)"
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Remains of King David's palace found in Jerusalem?
Israeli archaeologist Eilat Mazar announced in August that she has found in Jerusalem the remains of what could be the palace of the famed biblical King David mentioned in 2 Samuel 5:11.
For almost a decade Dr. Mazar suspected that the palace lay to the north of the mostly buried original walls of the cramped ancient city (that is, the walls from the time David captured the city from the Jebusites). She based this in part on 2 Samuel 5:17, which says that David, facing a Philistine invasion, "went down [from his palace] to the stronghold." Part of the foundation wall of what is believed to be this "stronghold" is clearly visible in east Jerusalem today.
Taking her cue from this hint that David's palace lay uphill from this ancient fortress, Dr. Mazar began excavations in that area in February. She also knew that in the 1960s, British archaeologist Kathleen Kenyon had uncovered nicely worked stones and capitals that topped large columns, both clear evidence that a large and ornate ancient structure had existed nearby.
There she uncovered foundations for a huge building, with boulders about two yards thick forming walls that extended at least 30 yards. Pottery fragments found just beneath the structure dated to the 12th to 11th centuries B.C., right before David captured Jerusalem and made it his capital. Other fragments found in a corner of the building were found to be from the 10th to 9th centuries B.C., during which David and his son Solomon reigned in Jerusalem.
Another intriguing find was a seal bearing the name of a biblical figure—Jehucal (also called Jucal), son of Shelemiah, a government official mentioned in Jeremiah 37:3 and 38:1.
At this point it is impossible to conclusively prove whether the structure is David's palace, the Jebusite or Israelite fortress, or some other structure not mentioned in the Bible. That will have to await further excavation, which is blocked at the moment by privately owned houses overlaying the site.
Regardless of what the structure eventually proves to be, it is definitely a major find. "This is a very significant discovery, given that Jerusalem as the capital of the united kingdom is very much unknown," explained Gabriel Barkay, an archaeologist with Israel's Bar-Ilan University. "This is one of the first greetings we have from the Jerusalem of David and Solomon, a period which has played a kind of hide-and-seek with archaeologists for the last century."
The find is "something of a miracle," according to Amihai Mazar, professor of archaeology at Hebrew University. "What she found is fascinating, whatever it is."
Dr. Mazar's work has been sponsored by the Jerusalem-based Shalem Center Archaeology Institute and funded by American financier Roger Hertog. Jerusalem's Hebrew University is academic sponsor of the excavation.
President Bush calls for teaching Intelligent Design in schools
American President George W. Bush raised the stakes in the debate over teaching evolution in schools in August when he said that children should be taught about "intelligent design," the idea that an unseen power or intelligence has guided the origin and development of life.
Asked by a reporter whether intelligent design should be taught in schools, he responded, "Both sides ought to be properly taught . . . so people can understand what the debate is about." He continued: "Part of education is to expose people to different schools of thought . . . You're asking me whether or not people ought to be exposed to different ideas, and the answer is yes."
His remarks heartened many parents, educators and religious leaders who have repeatedly asked legislatures and school boards to point out the many problems with Darwinian evolution and the extreme improbability that the complexity of life and the universe around us came about by blind chance.
John West of the Seattle-based Discovery Institute, a think tank supporting intelligent design, welcomed the president's remarks. "President Bush is to be commended for defending free speech on evolution, and supporting the right of students to hear about different scientific views about evolution," he said.
President Bush's statements brought harsh criticism from evolutionists, liberal politicians and other opponents of intelligent design, who argue it is without scientific support and should remain out of the classroom.
However, as noted in this section in the last issue of The Good News, a recent poll showed that only 38 percent of medical doctors surveyed believed that "humans evolved naturally with no supernatural involvement," and 65 percent thought intelligent design should be allowed or required to be taught in schools alongside the teaching of evolution.
Further, a July nationwide Harris poll found that almost two thirds (64 percent) of U.S. adults believe "human beings were created directly by God" and that 55 percent believe creation, intelligent design and evolution should all be taught in public schools. Only 12 percent agree that the most widespread current practice, that of teaching only evolution in public schools, is appropriate.
Continue reading The Good News, and especially this section, as we regularly point out problems with Darwinian evolution and report on findings supporting the Bible and the biblical view of creation.
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